NUHS presents: “Newsies”
New Ulm High School to present play March 29-31
Submitted photo The cast for New Ulm High School’s play “Newsies”.
NEW ULM — New Ulm High School will present “Newsies” from March 29-31 at the High School Auditorium.
The musical is based on a strike by newspaper boys who have to go on strike because of Joseph Pulitzer, who set up rules that made it more difficult for the newsies to make money.
“It’s based on the historical event of the newsies strike in 1899,” Thursby said. “It’s against the newsies fighting against Joseph Pulitzer to raise the price of the newspapers. There were hungry kids who rose against him [Pulitzer] and they got all the other newsies to strike and then Pulitzer ended up lowering the price after Governor Teddy Roosevelt stepped in.”
Sarah Thursby, one of the play’s directors (along with Kim Horning), got the idea of doing “Newsies” from her students.
“This play has been a staple for New Ulm High School students, all the way back from their sixth grade music ed class,” Thursby said. “They all watch it. There are kids who aren’t in music in high school who have seen it and they just love it.”
Submitted photo Mitch Moellenhoff will play the roll of Jack Kelly in the upcoming play “Newsies” at New Ulm High School.
Thursby said that the students have enjoyed the practices thus far. However, it’s been tough getting in all of the practices due to school being closed or getting out early this winter.
“We lost 14 rehearsals due to the snow and the cold,” Thursby said. “In normal musical world, that would be detrimental, but because the kids are so enthused with this show, they are singing better than ever, better than ever show I’ve ever worked on with any students. Even with the lost time, they’re so eager and excited to sing and due these roles that they’ve been thinking about years ago.”
Thursby said that the musical lasts just more than 2 hours. The cast and crew has been fun for Thursby and Horning to work with and they’ve both enjoyed it.
“The hands on the production are many, we have an advanced construction class that is designing and building the set,” Thursby said. ”We have my theater productions class doing all the painting and all of the props and the light design and sound design — all of the inner workings it takes to put on a show. It’s really exciting. We also have some of the band kids and the choir kids, so it’s really kind of a big full effort.
“It’s been really fun, but quite chaotic at times,” Thursby said of managing all of the help and getting everything together despite the missed school time. “It’s help making sure everyone is getting the help that they need if they have questions, trying to take care of everyone and make sure everyone is supported. Doing that with two directors is tough because we have to supervise the set building and make sure that it’s going along, not to mention the 60-piece cast that we have.”
Submitted photo Medda Larkin (Rachel Hohensee) in a scene in the upcoming play “Newsies”.
This is the second time Thursby and Horning have worked together on a musical at New Ulm High School and Thursby said that the two work well together.
Cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children and all shows will be at New Ulm High School.
If you go:
Friday, March 29: 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 30: 7 p.m.
Submitted photo Davey (Donovin Weber), Katherine (Abby Hietala) and Race (Augie Babel) perform in the play “Newsies”.
Sunday, March 31: 2 p.m.
Tickets
Adults $10
Children $7
“NEWSIES” CAST
LEADS
Jack Kelly Mitch Moellenhoff
Crutchy Emma Maudal
Davey Donovin Weber
Katherine Abby Hietala
Liz Alex Vigil
Wiesel Grant Thomas
Morris Delancey Siiri Rakowski
Olivia Delancey Lizzy Wilfahrt
Pulitzer Braydon Hoffmann
Seitz Anna Natysin
Bunsen Marcarious Amoah
Hannah Makiah Otto
Nunzio & Teddy Roosevelt
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- Submitted photo Medda Larkin (Rachel Hohensee) in a scene in the upcoming play “Newsies”.
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- Submitted photo Davey (Donovin Weber), Katherine (Abby Hietala) and Race (Augie Babel) perform in the play “Newsies”.
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- Submitted photo The cast for New Ulm High School’s play “Newsies”.
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- Submitted photo Mitch Moellenhoff will play the roll of Jack Kelly in the upcoming play “Newsies” at New Ulm High School.
Snyder Zach Lund
Medda Larkin Rachel Hohensee
Mr. Jacobi Vinny Munoz
Spot Conlon Emily Sowers
CHORUS
Nuns & Newsies
Kareen Hammerschmidt
Bella Koch
Anna Natysin
Makena Otto
Lucy Sletta
Bowery Beauties & Newsies
Abigail Allen
Annika Anderson
Amber Stabenow
Ellie Wilker
Newsies
Race Augie Babel
Albert Jade Moellenhoff
Romeo Jacob Martinka
Specs Emily Appel
Henry Ellie Wilker
Finch Jessica Moellenhoff
Elmer Emily Sowers
Mush Maddie Nelson
Buttons Kaye Rysdahl
Tommy Boy Ethan Horning
Roy Jaden Gieser
Tony London Watson
JoJo Makenna Simpson
Splasher Paige Jacobs
Mike Ellidi Mielke
Ike Kate Suess
Mitsy Elizabeth Olson
Mickey Dani Groebner
Ricky Jana Julia Boquet
Craig Vy Phan
Tank Jenna Ebert
Coffee Girl Kaitlyn Braulick
Directors
Kimberly Horning
Sarah Thursby
Sound Design
Holden Fossen
Justin Hendrickson
Light Board
Makenna Lang
Spotlights
Gabby Sammons
Emma Neet
Student Stage Manager
Aaron Dewanz
Choreography
Maddie Bakken
Lights Design
Sarah Thursby
Makenna Lang
Hayley Vander Louw
Set Design and Artistry
Rhonda Johnson
Set Build
Kevin Briggs
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